Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A protective case for use with an electronic device, the protective case comprising: a cushion layer; and a structural layer configured to surround at least a portion of the cushion layer, the structural layer comprising: a back portion; at least two side walls connected to and extending from the back portion, wherein the back portion, the side walls, and the cushion layer are configured to cover at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case; a slot in the back portion for removably retaining a card; a rotatable dial accessible at an outer surface of the back portion of the structural layer; and a rack and pinion system configured for selectively ejecting the card, at least partially, from the slot in response to rotation of the rotatable dial.
A protective case for an electronic device includes a cushion layer to cover part of the device and a structural layer surrounding the cushion. The structural layer has a back portion, two or more side walls, and a slot in the back for holding a card. A rotatable dial is accessible on the back of the case. A rack and pinion system ejects the card at least partially from the slot when the dial is rotated.
2. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the card is a credit card or an identification card and the slot is sized to fit the card.
The protective case of the previous description has a slot sized to fit a credit card or identification card.
3. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the rack and pinion system comprises the rack engaged with the pinion, the rack configured to move in response to rotation of the pinion.
The protective case described earlier includes a rack and pinion system where the rack moves when the pinion rotates, and the pinion rotates when the accessible dial is rotated.
4. The protective case of claim 3 further comprising a second slot in the back portion for removably retaining a second card.
The protective case with the card ejection system described previously also includes a second slot in the back portion for holding a second card.
5. The protective case of claim 4 wherein the rack and pinion system further comprises: a second pinion configured to rotate in response to rotation of the dial; and a second rack engaged with the second pinion and configured to move in response to rotation of the second pinion to at least partially push the second card out of the second slot.
The protective case that has two card slots as described now has a rack and pinion system with a second pinion that rotates when the dial is rotated, and a second rack engaged with the second pinion. The second rack moves when the second pinion rotates to at least partially push the second card out of the second slot.
6. The protective case of claim 5 wherein the first pinion rotates in response to rotation of the dial in a first direction and the second pinion rotates in response to rotation of the dial in a second direction.
In the protective case with two card ejection mechanisms, the first pinion rotates when the dial rotates in one direction, and the second pinion rotates when the dial rotates in the opposite direction. This allows the user to select which card to eject.
7. The protective case of claim 6 further comprising one or more clutches for preventing rotation of the first pinion when the dial is rotated in the second direction.
The protective case with the dual-card ejection mechanism as described incorporates clutches that prevent the first pinion from rotating when the dial is rotated in the direction intended for the second pinion. This ensures only the intended card is ejected.
8. The protective case of claim 6 further comprising one or more clutches for preventing rotation of the second pinion when the dial is rotated in the first direction.
The protective case with the dual-card ejection mechanism as described incorporates clutches that prevent the second pinion from rotating when the dial is rotated in the direction intended for the first pinion. This ensures only the intended card is ejected.
9. The protective case of claim 3 further comprising a shaft for transferring force from the rotatable dial to the pinion, wherein the shaft is attached to the pinion.
In the protective case with the rack and pinion card ejection, a shaft transfers force from the rotatable dial to the pinion. The shaft is attached to the pinion, ensuring the pinion rotates when the dial is turned.
10. The protective case of claim 9 further comprising a first gear attached to the shaft, wherein the first gear engages a second gear of the rotatable dial for transferring the force from the rotatable dial to the pinion.
The protective case with the card ejection mechanism and shaft incorporates a first gear attached to the shaft. The first gear engages a second gear of the rotatable dial, transferring force from the dial to the pinion via the shaft and gears, enabling card ejection.
11. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the slot is sized to have an interference fit with the card.
The protective case with card storage described earlier has a slot sized to create an interference fit with the card, meaning the slot is slightly smaller than the card, holding it securely.
12. A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising: a shell configured to cover at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case; a slot in a back portion of the shell for removably storing a card, wherein the card is one of a credit card, an identification card, and a driver's license; and an ejection mechanism configured for ejecting the card from the slot in response to an input from a user of the protective case at an outer surface of the protective case, the ejection mechanism including a rotatable dial accessible at an outer surface of the shell, a rack, and a pinion, wherein the pinion is configured to actuate the rack to eject the card in response to rotation of the pinion, the pinion configured to rotate in response to rotation of the rotatable dial.
A protective case for an electronic device includes a shell that covers part of the device. A slot in the back of the shell stores a card, like a credit card or driver's license. An ejection mechanism, including a rotatable dial on the outside of the case, a rack, and a pinion, ejects the card. Rotating the dial rotates the pinion, which actuates the rack, pushing the card out of the slot.
13. The protective case of claim 12 further comprising a second slot, a second pinion, and a second rack engaged with the second pinion, wherein the second rack is configured to move in response to the rotation of the second pinion to at least partially push a second card out of the second slot.
The protective case with a card ejection mechanism also includes a second slot, a second pinion, and a second rack engaged with the second pinion. The second rack moves when the second pinion rotates, pushing a second card out of the second slot. Now the case can hold and eject two cards.
14. The protective case of claim 13 wherein the first pinion rotates in response to movement of the ejection mechanism in a first direction and the second pinion rotates in response to movement of the ejection mechanism in a second direction.
The protective case with dual card ejection has the first pinion rotating when the ejection mechanism (dial) is moved in one direction, and the second pinion rotating when the ejection mechanism is moved in the opposite direction, allowing selection of which card to eject.
15. The protective case of claim 12 further comprising a clutch system attached to the rotatable dial.
The protective case with a card ejection mechanism and a rotatable dial also includes a clutch system attached to the dial, presumably to control or limit the dial's rotation or engagement with the ejection mechanism.
16. A protective case for use with an electronic device, the protective case comprising: a structural layer having a back portion and two or more walls, the back portion and the two or more walls configured to surround at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case; a slot at an outer surface of the back portion of the structural layer for removably storing a card, wherein the card is one of a credit card, an identification card, and a driver's license; and an ejection mechanism accessible at the outer surface of the structural layer, the ejection mechanism configured for at least partially ejecting the card from the slot in response to a force applied to the ejection mechanism, the ejection mechanism including a dial, one or more gears, and a finger that applies a force to a side edge of the card to at least partially eject the card from the slot when the force is applied to the dial of the ejection mechanism.
A protective case has a structural layer with a back and walls to surround part of an electronic device. A slot on the back holds a card such as a credit card or driver's license. An ejection mechanism accessible on the back includes a dial, gears, and a finger. When force is applied to the dial, the finger pushes on the card's edge to partially eject it.
17. The protective case of claim 16 wherein the slot includes a soft material providing an interference fit between the slot and the card, wherein the soft material deflects when the card is inserted into the slot.
The protective case's card slot includes a soft material for an interference fit. This soft material deflects when the card is inserted, providing a secure hold without damaging the card.
18. The protective case of claim 16 further comprising a second slot for removably storing a second card, wherein the first slot is separated from the second slot by a divider.
The protective case with a card slot has a second slot for storing another card. The first and second slots are separated by a divider, ensuring the cards don't interfere with each other.
Unknown
September 12, 2017
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